The evolution of seed testing

Transcription

1 Session 4 The importance of quality seed in agriculture The evolution of seed testing Michael Muschick, Secretary General of the International Seed Testing Association

2 The value of Seeds Seeds have been undoubtedly the most important and the most crucial means of production since mankind is working in plant production and agriculture

3 Outstanding Scientists Carl von Linné Alexander von Humboldt

4 Outstanding Scientists Justus von Liebig Gregor Johann Mendel

5 Prof. Dr. Friedrich Nobbe ( ) The founder of seed testing 1869 in Tharandt, Saxony, Germany

6 Nobbe s questions Is the seed sold to farmers of the desired botanical species? How many seeds are of the desired botanical species? What other botanical species can be found in the seed sold? Does the sold seed have the potential to produce a healthy plant?

7 Thoughts of Prof. Nobbe The establishments of any measures for the seed has to follow the principles of scientific work and has to take into consideration all available scientific knowledge A representative sample needs to be drawn from a seed lot Seed analysis need to be made in a laboratory Methods need to be available to analyse the physical purity and determine the other seeds Methods need to be available to analyse the Germination capacity of the seed

8 Thoughts of Prof. Nobbe The analysis of the seed needs to be done before the seed is sold to the farmer

9 Introduction Seed consumption in the German Empire Physiological Part Statistical Part Practical Part

10 International Spread of Seed Testing Labs 1869: Foundation of the first seed testing laboratory in Germany 1875: 12 seed testing laboratories in Germany, Belgium, Austria-Hungary, Denmark and the USA 1876/77: 20 new seed testing laboratories were founded 1896: already 119 seed testing laboratories exsist in 19 different countries

11 International Seed Testing Congress 1906: 1 st International Seed Testing Congress, Hamburg, Germany 1910: 2 nd International Seed Testing Congress, Münster/Wageningen, Germany/The Netherlands 1921: 3 rd International Seed Testing Congress, Copenhagen, Denmark 1924: 4 th International Seed Testing Congress, Cambridge, UK and Foundation of the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA)

12 First Executive Committee of ISTA Knud Dorph-Petersen, Denmark, President Dr. Franck, Netherland, Vice President Prof. M.T. Munn (President AOSA), USA Mr. W. V. Petery, Argentina Mr. A. Eastham, UK The first ISTA President (1924) Knud Dorph-Petersen

13 Paragraph 1 of the 1924 ISTA Constitution Under the name of the International Seed Testing Association, a union of Official Seed Testing Stations with legal domicile at the residence of its President exists for the purpose of advancing all questions connected with the testing and judgment of seeds. The Association seeks to attain this object through: Comparative tests and other researched directed to achieving more accurate and uniform results than hitherto obtained. The formulation of uniform methods and uniform terms in the analysis of seeds in international trade The organization of international congresses attended by representatives of Official Seed Testing Stations for the purpose of mutual deliberation and information, the publication of treaties and reports on seed testing and mutual assistance in the training of technical officers

14 Dissemination and collection of information International Harmonization of Reporting Results International Standardization of Seed Testing Methodologies Success factors for seed quality determination and seed trade Training and Education on international level International Harmonization of Laboratory Performance

15 Developments in Seed Science and Technology ISTA Meetings and Congresses Dissemination and collection of information ISTA Certificates International Harmonization of Reporting Results Publications Method Development International Standardization of Seed Testing Methodologies INTERNATIONAL SEED TESTING ASSOCIATION (ISTA) Training and Education on international level Workshops Method Validation Proficiency Test Programmes International Harmonization of Laboratory Performance Audit Programme Accreditation Standard Development

16 The development and harmonization of seed testing methodologies following scientific principles 1931 Establishment: Germination, Purity, Sanitary condition, Genuineness of variety, Provenance, weight determinations, determination of moisture content Introduction of Seed Health Methods 1966 Introduction of the topographical Tetrazolium test 2001 Introduction of Vigour methods 2004 Introduction of performance based methods for specified trait testing

17 The uniform reporting of seed testing results 1931: The ISTA Certificates (Orange and Blue ISTA certificate) have been established creating a uniform way of reporting seed testing results. ISTA Orange Certificate reports the average quality of a whole seed lot ISTA Blue Certificate reports the quality of a submitted seed sample 2001: only laboratories having fulfilled the requirements of the ISTA Accreditation Standard are entitled to issue ISTA certificates providing the confidence in the trueth and reproducibility of the reported test results.

18 The international harmonization and monitoring of seed laboratory performance The ISTA Proficiency Tests: Germination Proficiency Test Purity Proficiency Test Other seed determination Proficiency test Moisture Proficiency Test Vigour Proficiency Test Seed Health Proficiency Test GMO Proficiency Test

19 The international harmonization and monitoring of seed laboratory performance 1995 the ISTA Accreditation Standard Establishment of Quality Assurance system in the laboratory. Successful participation at the ISTA proficiency test. Use of ISTA Rules for the analysis

20 The international harmonization and monitoring of seed laboratory performance Results of the Proficiency Test

21 Recent developments Cuts at the universities reduces the progress in scientific research tremendously. International training programmes in seed technology for young academics at the university level have been closed down. Cuts in resources of the public stations reduces the work on applied seed science and on the international level.

22 Conclusions The determination of the seed quality, the seed testing, is the most important measure for the agricultural production. Seed Testing is depending on science, scientitic studies and the application of the principles of scientific work. The development of seed testing, as well as the international harmonization of seed testing procedures has been achieved rapidly through intensive work. Tremendous cuts in nearly all areas of seed testing over the last years is threatening the today internationally harmonised system.

23 Thank you for your attention